COMPETENCE BASED CURRICULUM IN KENYA SIMPLIFIED

What is a Competence Based Curriculum?

This is a uniquely designed model that is designed to promote the development of skills, knowledge and application of competencies by learners to real life situations.

It further aims at imparting knowledge, skills and attitude that build broad competencies which help in solving everyday problems.

This new system of education was designed by the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) and launched in 2017 by the Ministry of Education.

In summary;

• CBC focuses on learning outcomes
• It is learner centered
• It is a learner-driven process hence active
• Meant for learners who are born into the world of technology (techno servi learners)
• Classes are now referred to as grades
• ECDE has 2 levels, not 3 i.e. PP1 & PP2
• Subject areas are now known as learning areas
• Topics and sub-topics are now called strands and sub-strands respectively

UNIQUE FEATURES/ CHARACTERISTICS OF KENYA’S COMPETENCE BASED CURRICULUM

• It is flexible for it enables learners to receive credit for what they know, not what they are expected to know.
• It not only focuses on the learner’s academic knowledge but also talents.
• ICT is integrated at all levels
• Learners receive individualized attention

THE 7 CORE COMPETENCIES OF KENYA’S COMPETENCE BASED CURRICULUM

At the end of the learning period, a learner is expected to achieve the following competencies:

1. Communication and collaboration
2. Critical thinking and problem solving
3. Citizenship
4. Imagination and creativity
5. Digital literacy
6. Self –efficacy
7. Learning to learn

CBC LIFE VALUES

CBC aims at promoting the following values:

1. Love
2. Responsibility
3. Respect
4. Unity
5. Peace
6. Patriotism
7. Integrity

CBC LEVELS

Kenya’s Competence Based Curriculum’s basic education is divided into three main levels:

1. Early years education
2. Middle school education

• Senior school

After acquiring basic education, the learner can proceed to higher education levels

Higher education

It takes at least three years.

There is no fixed time frame since it varies depending on the course.

Senior school

(Grades 10, 11 & 12)

It takes three years.

The age bracket is 15-17 years.

It lays the foundation for further education and training at tertiary level

Lower secondary

(Grades 7, 8 &9)

It takes three years

Upper primary

(Grade 4, 5 &6)

It is part of middle school

Formerly referred to as class 4, 5 &6 respectively

Gives learners a chance to experiment and explore

Lower primary

(Grade 1, 2 &3)

Formerly referred to as lower primary which comprised class 1, 2 &3

Pre-primary

Abbreviated as PP1 & PP2

Referred to as ECDE under the 8-4-4 curriculum

ADVANTAGES OF THE COMPETENCE BASED CURRICULUM

Kenya’s proposed new competence based curriculum has got a number of merits over the former 8-4-4 system of education. These include:

1. It is highly flexible for its structure depends on the learner’s ability.
2. It encourages increased learner involvement since learners are in charge of their learning-learner-centered
3. It is centered on skills and competencies that learners can easily apply to real life situations- situations that learners can easily relate with
4. Furthermore, the CBC curriculum enables the learner to specialize in areas that s/he is competent. Thus it will not end up producing jacks of all trades but masters of none